Summary
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the gateway to financial aid. By completing the FAFSA, students become eligible for various forms of financial assistance that can significantly offset the cost of their education. Filling out the FAFSA determines a student's eligibility for state grants such as the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG). Scholarships can be in the form of a tuition waiver, a fee waiver, or money paid directly to the postsecondary education (PSE) program or to the student. Scholarships equal free money. Most scholarships require students to apply for the award.
Snapshot
Check-in with FAFSA
Students will complete a FAFSA checklist.
Scholarship Scavenger Hunt
Students will use the “I Used to Think…But Now I Know” strategy to reflect on their experience with finding scholarships. Then they will complete a scholarship scavenger hunt.
The More You Know Reflection
Students finish the “I Used to Think…But Now I Know” strategy by reflecting on what they learned about searching for scholarships.
Materials List
Session Slides (attached)
Got Money? handout (attached; one per student)
Scholarship Scavenger Hunt handout (attached; one per student)
Paper (optional)
Pen/Pencil
Preparation
Prepare all handouts and extra paper if doing the optional group brainstorming activity (see “Facilitator Note” in Scholarship Scavenger Hunt section for more details).
Scholarship Scavenger Hunt Activity
This activity provides students with easy access to scholarship resources. Add the school’s webpage link to direct students to institution-specific scholarships under “College-Specific” on page 1 of the Scholarship Scavenger Hunt handout.
Check-in with FAFSA
20 Minute(s)
Use the provided Session Slides to facilitate this session. Display slide 1 and introduce the session by talking to students about how important FAFSA is. The FAFSA can provide resources to help pay for college or career tech. Students need to complete the form every year they plan to attend school. If students need more information about FAFSA, consider unhiding slide 2 and play the video entitled “Why Complete the FAFSA form?”
Show slide 3 and pass out the Got Money? handout to every student. Explain the importance of having to reapply for FAFSA at the start of every academic year. Then explain the FAFSA Checklist activity in as much detail as needed and allow students time to work.
Scholarship Scavenger Hunt
30 Minute(s)
After students have finished their FAFSA checklist, transition to slide 4 and introduce the I Used to Think…but Now I Know strategy. Invite students to turn over their Got Money? handout and reflect on what they already know about scholarships first before they start the next activity in the space provided. Allow students time to work.
Display slide 5 and pass out the Scholarship Scavenger Hunt handout. Review the importance of applying for scholarships on top of FAFSA. Explain that students should complete the table using the resources for the top three different types of scholarships: big search engines, college specific, and community-based.
While the first two sets of resources are straightforward because the links have already been provided, explain that the community-based scholarships are dependent on where students are coming from. Explain that community-based scholarships are scholarships that come from the community they grew up in. For example, they should consider local businesses, banks, churches, and other local organizations. Point out that students should also check the community their college or the career tech is located in if it is in another community. Walk students through the provided Frayer Model brainstorming activity on the handout before instructing them to find a community-based scholarship to add to the last column in the table. Allow students time to work.
The More You Know Reflection
15 Minute(s)
After students have completed their “Scholarship Scavenger Hunt” activity, display slide 8 and have them return to their Got Money? handout. Invite students to fill out the other side of the “I Used to Think…But Now I Know” section. Explain that they should reflect on what they now know about finding scholarships.
Display slide 9 and close the session reminding students that they can still search for and apply to scholarships even after they’ve already been accepted to college because their information and circumstances change every year.
Research Rationale
Various postsecondary institutions have structures in place to help first-generation college students build support and structures during the first year so that they can continue their education and complete their degrees. Research shows the largest factor disadvantages first-generation college students face are building and maintaining connections with peers and faculty (Hallett et al., 2020; Payne et al., 2023), developing a sense of belonging within a community (Hallett et al., 2020; Kulp et al., 2021; Pratt et al., 2019), understanding the resources available (Payne et al., 2023), understanding time management (Bolkan et al., 2021), and understanding financial support (Demetriou et al., 2017). The goal of support structures at institutions is to “assist students in developing initial social connections that will help them feel a sense of belonging on campus” (Hallett et al., 2020, p. 236).
Sources
Bettinger, E. P., & Evans, B. J. (2019). College guidance for all: A randomized experiment in pre-college advising. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 38(3), 579-599.
EducationQuest.Foundation.org. (n.d.). FAFSA Checklist. https://educationquest.org/pdfs/FAFSAchecklist.pdf
Federal Student Aid. (2026, January 6). Why complete the FAFSA form? [video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/RtDYpEfAa5U?si=-tXzh-PSiJH2EGQu
K20 Center. (n.d.). Chain notes. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/52
K20 Center. (2024 February 8). College preparation: FAFSA. Educator Resource. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/educator-resource/3369
K20 Center. (n.d.). Frayer model. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/126
K20 Center. (n.d.). I used to think . . . but now I know. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/137
K20 Center. (2024, February 15). Paying for college 101: Part 1. Family Resource. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/family-resource/3541
K20 Center. (2023, December 6). Paying for college 101: Part 2. Family Resource. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/family-resource/3385
Wolniak, G. C. & Engberg, M. E. (2019). Do “high-impact” college experiences affect early career outcomes? The Review of Higher Education, 42(3), 825-858.